Compression sprayer



Feb. 18, 1964 PlNKE 3,121,518

COMPRESSION SPRAYER Filed Aug. 18, 1960 "In a United States Patent 3,121,518 COMPRESSION SPRAYER August H. Pinks, Hastings, Minn, assignor to H. D. Hudson Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., 11 corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 50,537 2 Claims. (Cl. 222402) The present invention relates to compression sprayers for spraying under substantial pressure sprayable solutions including pesticides, insecticides, whitewash, sprayable paints, agricultural chemicals and the like, and more particularly to such a sprayer in which the pump assembly is removably mounted in the fill opening of the tank and to a novel cam locking means for effecting sealing engagement between the pump barrel and the portion of the tank defining the fill or access opening in which the barrel is mounted.

Compression sprayers as herein disclosed operate under substantial air pressure collected in the tank and generated by intermittent actuation of a pump whereby spraying may be continuously effected over a substantial period of time or until the pressure in the tank is sufiiciently decreased as to require the operator to again manipulate the pump to build up sufficient operating air pressure in the tank.

To maintain the air pressure generated in the tank against leakage, novel means are provided for positively sealing the pump assembly in the tank and maintaining such seal effective until the pump assembly is to be removed either after spraying has been completed or when the contents of the tank has been depleted and must be replenished.

As air under pressure usually remains in the tank when the operator completes spraying and also when the contents of the tank requires refilling with a new supply of spray solution, to remove the pump assembly for access to the tank the seal between the tank and pump assembly must be broken and the contained pressure relieved from the tank prior to removal of the pumpassembly. If such entrapped air is not relieved prior to release of the pump assembly, there is danger of forcible ejection or dislodgernent of the pump assembly and/or expulsion of some of the contained spray solution by the remaining pressure which might cause injury to the operator or result in other damage.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a novel cam locking means including a cupped cam locking member at the upper end of the pump assembly and cooperating camminig surfaces on the upper end or tunnel top of the tank, combining to provide a unique locking arrangement for effecting positive sealing between the detachable and removable pump assembly and the tank in which it is mounted, and yet assuring that such effective seal will be broken and the air pressure remaining in the tank dissipated and relieved before the pump assembly may be bodily removed from the tank.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel cam locking member provided with a central depending portion so formed as to receive the upper end of the pump barrel and retain it fixed, thus resulting in a self-contained, unitary pump assembly.

Another important feature of the present pump assembly is the provision of a novel cam locking mechanism in which continuous surface contact is provided about the circumferential inturned lip of the funnel top of the tank and the cooperating circumferential portion of a cup-shaped cam locking member on the pump assembly for effecting positive sealing contact when the sprayer is assembled for operation.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an assembled compression sprayer embodying the present invention, the pump barrel and discharge tube in the tank being shown in dotted outline.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 3 through the upper portion of the tank and the pump in assembled and sealing relation with the pump in position for operation, the handle and plunger rod being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, but showing the handle in dotted outline.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the cam locking member on the pump in an intermediate position in which it is being rotated by the handle toward locked position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the cam locking member rotated by the handle to released position.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the cam locking member of the pump assembly.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawing in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the compression sprayer comprises a tank A for containing a substantial quantity of a liquid or spray solution to be dispensed in a desired spray pattern under pressure through a discharge tube 14) depending into the tank, a connected flexible hose 11 of suitable length and an extension spray tube 12 having an adjustable spray nozzle 13 with the discharge controlled by a manually-operated valve 14-.

Mounted in depending position in a fill or access opening 15 in the tank A is a pump assembly including a pump barrel or cylinder 16. The tank A is shown provided at its upper end with a funnel top 117 having a constriction or neck 18 defining a fill opening 15 and providing a seat for a sealing gasket 19. The cupped or unnel-shaped top 17 is provided at its upper circumferential edge with semi-circular inturned flanges providing circumferentially spaced and inclined cam surfaces 21 and 22 each adapted to receive therebeneath one of a pair of similarly inclined and circumferentially spaced cam surfaces 23 and 24 on the outwardly flanged circumference at the upper edge of a cupped cam locking member 25 providing the top of the pump assembly and received within the funnel top 17 of the tank.

The cupped cam locking member 25 has a depending central cylindrical constriction 26 at its lower end pressfitted into and securely retained within an enlargement 27 at the upper open end of the pump barrel 16, with the base 28 of this constriction having spaced arcuate slots 29 each having a communicating intermediate notch 31 for the entry and removal of one of a pair of oppositely extending radial projections 32 each depending from the hub 33 at the lower end of a pump handle 34 which is affixed to the upper end of a plunger rod 35 carrying a piston or plunger cup 36 at its lower end for generating pressure when the handle and the plunger lI'Od 35 are depressed on the pressure stroke. The lower end of the pump cylinder is provided with a suitable check or non-return valve 37 the details of which check valve and plunger cup may be like that shown in the Hudson et al. Patent No. 2,792,170, of May 14, 1957, whereby the pump discharges air into the tank on the pressure stroke but the check valve prevents the reverse flow of air and/or 3 spray solution from the tank into the pump cylinder on the suction stroke.

The sealing gasket 19 encompasses the enlarged diameter :27 of the pump barrel 16 immediately below its top external flange 38. In this position, when the barrel 16 of the pump assembly is positioned within the fill opening in the tank A and ready for assembly of the pump in the tank, this gasket 19 rests upon the neck or constriction 18 of the funnel top 17. The operator then depresses the handle 34 against the compression spring 39 encompassing the plunger rod 35 With the spring abutting at its lower end the slotted base 28 of the constriction 26. Depressing the handle 34 with the radial projections 32 aligned with the notches 31, causes these projections to enter and project through the notches so that when the handle 34 is' then turned to the right or clockwise, .assembly and sealing engagement is initiated. As the depressed handle is turned clockwise, these projections 32 first move to the right hand end of the arcuate slots 29 and bear against the shoulder at the end of these slots in the base 28. It will be evident that in this position further turning of the handle 34 to the right or clockwise carries along the cam locking member and the pump barrel 16.

In this continued clockwise turning effort the leading or lower ends of the cam surfaces 23 and 24, which initially lie upon the cam surfaces 21 and 22 on the funnel prior to turning effort to assemble the pump, enter the adjoining elevated ends of the inclined cam surfaces 21 and 22 and further turning effort causes these cam surfaces '23 and 24 to completely enter beneath the cam surfaces 21 and 22 on the funnel top 17 and then into continuous surface contact and camming engagement therewith. This effective camming action depresses the cam locking member 25 with its annular shoulder 41 applying uniform and continuous sealing pressure circumferentially against the top external flange 38 on the pump barrel which in turn uniformly depresses the gasket 19 and effectively seals the pump barrel 16 in the neck 18 of the tank.

To then release the handle from the slots'29 of the cam locking member 25 and permit pumping action, the operator again depresses the handle 34 and turns it to the left sufficiently to align the underlying projections 32 with the notches 31, whereupon the handle is released for pumping as shown in FIG. 2. With the tank effectively sealed, the operator can now manipulate the pump to build up the desired air pressure in the tank which previously had been filled with the desired quantity of spray solution.

When spraying has been completed or the contents of the tank has been exhausted and requires replenishing, the operator removes the pump. This is accomplished by again depressing the handle 34 With the projections 32 aligned with the notches 31 so that these projections pass through the notches, after which the operator turns the handle 34 to the left or counter-clockwise. In this position, the projections 32 are at the left-hand or opposite end of the arcuate slots 29 so that further turning of the handle counter-clockwise carries therewith the cam locking member 25 and pump assembly. As the carnming surfaces 21, 22, 23 and 24 thereupon move out of continuous surface or camming contact, pressure against the sealing gasket is promptly relieved and the air under pressure in the tank elevates the pump barrel sufliciently and the entrapped pressure is exhausted to the atmosphere. However, the cam locking member and pump assembly cannot be bodily released for removal until the camming surfaces 23 and 24 are completely disengaged or removed from beneath the then overlying carnming surfaces 21 and 22 on the funnel top 17 of the tank A. This allows ample time for all entrapped air pressure in the tank to be relieved while the cam lock member is rotated to release position.

More specifically, as the assembled cam locking member and the atfixed pump barrel are elevated, the enlarged end '27 of the barrel is raised sufficiently to enlarge the annular space between the barrel and the fill opening for exhausting the entrapped pressure to the atmosphere before complete disengagement of the camming surfaces 23 and 24 on the cam locking member from the camming surfaces 21 and 22 on the funnel top.

By providing the upper end of the pump with a cupped cam locking member 25 having a circumferential flange divided into two circumferentially spaced semi-circular cam surfaces 23 and 24 providing continuous camming contact with the similar semi-circular cam surfaces 21 and 22 on the funnel top of the tank when the cam locking member has been turned as far as possible to the right, provides a most effective safety cam lock between the tank and pump assembly assuring positive sealing contact. It further provides for eifectively retaining the pump assembly against release and removal until the camming surfaces 23 and 24 of the cam locking member are completely disengaged from beneath the camming surfaces 21 and 22 on the tank. By forming these camming surfaces 21, 22, 23 and 24 in the manner shown, turning of the handle 34 toward the left to release position, the operator is assured any entrapped pressure in the tank is relieved.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a compression sprayer having a tank provided with an outwardly and upwardly flared cupped end providing a funnel top with a constriction defining a fill opening for a spray solution, a planar annular seat surrounding said fill opening for an annular sealing gasket and spaced, inclined semi-circular inturned flanges at the upper peripheral edge of the funnel top providing camming surfaces, a pump assembly including a barrel detachably mounted in the fill opening and removable for supplying the tank with spray solution, said barrel having an enlarged diameter merging into an external outwardly and downwardly opening annular flange at its upper end with said enlarged diameter conformably received within the fill opening, a reciprocating plunger in said barrel and a handle for reciprocating said plunger, a resilient annular sealing gasket encompassing the upper end of said barrel about said enlargement and below and partially within said annular flange and adapted to seat upon said planar annular seat of said constriction for sealing the barrel in said fill opening of the tank, a cam locking member at the upper end of the pump barrel comprising an outwardly and upwardly flared truncated substantially continuous conical cup member provided at its upper peripheral edge with inclined substantially continuous external flanges for complementary camming engagement with the inturned flanges on the upper end of the funnel top to effect anchoring and sealing of the pump assembly in the tank, the lower end of the truncated substantially continuous conical cup member terminating in an annular shoulder abutting the annular flange on said pump barrel and a cylindrical reduction depending into and conformably received and retained in the enlarged diameter of the barrel to provide a unitary assembly, said cylindrical reduction terminating at its lower end in a base provided with .arcuate slots, said handle provided with downwardly and outwardly extending projections received in said arcuate slots for interlocking engagement therebetween so that turning of said handle rotates said cam locking member and its camming surfaces into substantially continu ous camming engagement with the complementary camming surfaces on said funnel top to apply continuous and uniform sealing pressure to said gasket through the annular shoulder on the cam locking member.

2. In a compression sprayer as set forth in claim 1, in which said flanges on said funnel top and on said cam locking member are inclined circumferentially with the lower ends of the flanges on the cam locking member entering the elevated ends of the flanges on the funnel top when the cam locking member is rotated in one direction to effect a continuous tight seal through contact of said annular shoulder, and when the cam locking memher is rotated in the opposite direction sealing pressure on the barrel and gasket is uniformly relieved through release of pressure on said annular shoulder With the barrel and its enlargement elevated in the fill opening permitting the entrapped pressure from the tank to escape between the elevated barrel and fill opening before the cooperating external and inturned flanges are disengaged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS De Frees Aug. 1, 1933 Brandt Mar. 22, 1938 Bullock Apr. 2, 1940 Hudson et al Nov. 6, 1956 

1. IN A COMPRESSION SPRAYER HAVING A TANK PROVIDED WITH AN OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FLARED CUPPED END PROVIDING A FUNNEL TOP WITH A CONSTRICTION DEFINING A FILL OPENING FOR A SPRAY SOLUTION, A PLANAR ANNULAR SEAT SURROUNDING SAID FILL OPENING FOR AN ANNULAR SEALING GASKET AND SPACED, INCLINED SEMI-CIRCULAR INTURNED FLANGES AT THE UPPER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE FUNNEL TOP PROVIDING CAMMING SURFACES, A PUMP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BARREL DETACHABLY MOUNTED IN THE FILL OPENING AND REMOVABLE FOR SUPPLYING THE TANK WITH SPRAY SOLUTION, SAID BARREL HAVING AN ENLARGED DIAMETER MERGING INTO AN EXTERNAL OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY OPENING ANNULAR FLANGE AT ITS UPPER END WITH SAID ENLARGED DIAMETER CONFORMABLY RECEIVED WITHIN THE FILL OPENING, A RECIPROCATING PLUNGER IN SAID BARREL AND A HANDLE FOR RECIPROCATING SAID PLUNGER, A RESILIENT ANNULAR SEALING GASKET ENCOMPASSING THE UPPER END OF SAID BARREL ABOUT SAID ENLARGEMENT AND BELOW AND PARTIALLY WITHIN SAID ANNULAR FLANGE AND ADAPTED TO SEAT UPON SAID PLANAR ANNULAR SEAT OF SAID CONSTRICTION FOR SEALING THE BARREL IN SAID FILL OPENING OF THE TANK, A CAM LOCKING MEMBER AT THE UPPER END OF THE PUMP BARREL COMPRISING AN OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FLARED TRUNCATED SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS CONICAL CUP MEMBER PROVIDED AT ITS UPPER PERIPHERAL EDGE WITH INCLINED SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS EXTERNAL 